Horses To Watch

by Greg Melikov

posted on October 15, 2012 in Blogroll, Free Picks and Tips, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | No Comments >>

Horses worth watching, a list of runners compiled by handicapper/turf writer Greg Melikov, should do well next time out. These thoroughbreds won eight times, finished second three  times and ran third seven times since Sept. 22. They’re worth considering when developing your wagering strategy for online betting or at your favorite track.

 

 

BELMONT

In Speight Ofitall: Raced 8 ½ lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, saved ground into stretch, angled out for clear path nearing eighth pole, rallied from fifth to make up three lengths and finished third beaten a head for third at seven furlongs on the turf Sept. 27; ran final three furlongs in 36 1/5.

 

Going Going Gone: Raced more than three lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, angled three for the drive, rallied from fourth in stretch to make up 2 ½ lengths and finished dead-heated for second beaten a neck at six furlongs on the turf Sept. 15. (Raced six lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile and rallied belatedly in the stretch to finish third beaten a nose for second at six furlongs on Sept. 26.)

 

Kauai Katie: Scampered to front, led by a length after a half-mile, increased margin to  three lengths in stretch and won easily by 2 ¾ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 12. (Patiently stalked pacesetter early, led by a length after a half-mile, increased margin to 4 ½ lengths in stretch and won by 7 ½ lengths in a hand ride at six furlongs on Sept. 30.)

 

Crespano: Raced sixth more than five lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, rallied from fifth in stretch to make up nearly 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a nose at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface Aug. 5 at Saratoga; ran final quarter in 24 3/5. (Bumped at break, raced more than three lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied five wide from third in stretch and won by a neck at seven furlongs on a good surface Oct. 7.)

 

CALDER

Bad News Captain: Raced 7 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, swung out for stretch run, rallied under strong hand ride from fifth after jockey lost whip, made up 6 ¼ lengths and gained second by 1 ¼ lengths at seven furlongs on Sept. 27.  (Stalked pace more than 1 ½ lengths behind in fourth third after a half-mile and rallied a bit in stretch to gain third by a neck at a mile on a good surface Oct. 13.)

 

Macho Spaces: Bumped, steadied at start, raced 4 ½ lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile, rallied from fourth inside winner to make up 1 ½ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a head at five furlongs on Sept. 19. (Stalked pace off rail more than two lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, swung out for stretch run and finished second beaten a length at six furlongs on Oct. 5; returned $7 for place.)

 

Kankakee Lady: Raced sixth and last early, advanced to fifth four lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, rallied from fourth in stretch to make up more than 3 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at five furlongs on  Sept. 3.

 

Sheriff Ira: Chased pace more than 7 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied from fourth in stretch to make up more than three lengths and finished second beaten a half-length at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 23.

 

Tinitus: Pushed inward at start, raced more than 7 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, circled four wide into stretch, lugged in under right handed pressure bothering third place finisher, rallied from fourth to make up four lengths and finished second beaten a length at seven furlongs on Aug. 5; disqualified to third for causing interference in stretch.

 

DELAWARE PARK

Reel Victory: Raced six lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, dropped to seventh after six furlongs, closed fast outside in stretch to make up four lengths and finished second beaten a neck at a mile on the turf Sept. 29; ran final quarter in 23 3/5.  

 

Jonesy Boy: Broke alertly, bumped with rival at break, checked off heals of another foe, raced more than 3 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung wide leaving far turn, changed course in stretch and rallied to make up more than 4 ¼ length to finish second beaten a head at a mile on Sept. 19 at Laurel Park. (Raced 3 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, awaited room in upper stretch and rallied along rail to win by three-quarters of a length at a mile on Oct. 4.)

 

Rinella Bay: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth 9 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, angled to middle of course for drive, rallied from fourth to make up more than 6 ¾ lengths and finished second  beaten  at 7 ½ furlongs on the turf Sept. 17.

 

R Vivacious Girl: Chased pace 4 ½ lengths behind in second after a half-mile, blocked entering stretch, slipped through from third late to make up a length and gained second by a nose at  1 1/16 miles on the turf Aug. 20.

 

Monroe’s Hope: Stalked pace early, gained lead by a head three wide on turn after three-eighths of a mile, drew off smartly by four lengths in stretch and won by 11 ½ lengths ridden out at 5 ½ furlongs on  Aug. 6.

 

Patatuz: Raced 3 ½ lengths behind in fifth after three-eighths of a mile and closed fast five wide in stretch to finish second beaten a neck at 5 ½ furlongs on July 25. 

 

HAWTHORE

Jimmy Got Even: Tracked leaders inside more than 6 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, shifted six wide in stretch, rallied from sixth to make up more than 4 ¾ lengths and finished third beaten three-quarters of a length and a nose at 6 ½ furlongs on Oct. 6.

 

The Best Option: Raced seventh and last more than 7 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, swung six wide for the drive and rallied from sixth in stretch to win by a half-length at about a mile on the turf Sept. 15 At Arlington Park. (Broke ninth and last, trailed by more than eight lengths after a half-mile, shifted out for drive, rallied between rivals from fifth in stretch and won by a length at a mile on the turf Oct. 12.)

 

KEENELAND

Horned Frog: Broke from the outside 11th post, raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind in eighth after a half-mile, angled out five wide for drive, rallied from seventh in stretch to make up more than six lengths and finished second beaten a length at 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 5.

 

Yuzuru: Tracked pace more than 1 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, lost ground angling out five wide for drive, rallied in stretch to make up two lengths and finished second beaten a head at a mile on a sealed sloppy surface Sept. 3 at Delaware. (Chased pace 5 ½ lengths behind in second after a half-mile, grabbed lead by a half-length after six furlongs, weakened in stretch and finished third by two lengths at 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 13.)

 

Mai Tai Mama: Led by two lengths after a half-mile, increased margin to 2 ½ lengths in stretch, weakened and finished third by three-quarters of a length at a mile on the turf Aug. 19 at Arlington Park. (Tracked pace more than two lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, waited for room entering stretch, but failed to close gap and finished third beaten 2 ¼ lengths at seven furlongs on Oct. 5.)

 

LAUREL PARK

Morning Cigar: Stumbled leaving gate, raced sixth and last early, advanced to fourth more than three lengths behind after a half-mile, rallied in stretch to make up 3 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on  Sept. 28.

 

Joribe: Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth more than 8 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, floated very wide at sixteenth pole, rallied from fourth to make up more than 3 ½ lengths in stretch and finished second beaten a nose at six furlongs on Sept. 3; ran final quarter in 24 seconds. (Raced 4 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, dropped to fifth after six furlongs and rallied in stretch to finish third beaten a nose for second at a mile on Sept. 22.)

 

LOUISIANA DOWNS

Macabe’s Gold: Brushed five wide going into first turn, raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied to second in stretch, weakened and finished third by a length at a mile and 70 yards on Sept. 13. (Raced fourth early, dropped to fifth more than 2 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, came five wide into stretch to take lead by a half-length and drew off to win by 2 ½ lengths at seven furlongs on Sept. 23; paid $13 on the front end.)   

 

MEADOWLANDS

Forensic Edge: Raced 13 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, rallied outside from fourth in stretch to make up 5 ½ lengths and finished third beaten a neck at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 16 at Monmouth Park. 

 

MONMOUTH PARK

Best Actor: Bumped at break, raced 3 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile and rallied to gain third beaten a head for place at 1 1/8 miles on the turf Aug. 30 at Saratoga. (Broke eighth and last, trailed by more than 3 ½ lengths after a half-mile, waited for room for drive and rallied from sixth in stretch to gain third by 1 ¼ lengths at a mile on the turf Sept. 23.)

 

PARX (PHILADELPHIA PARK)

Jet Set Vinny: Off slowly, raced eighth and last more than 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, eased out for drive, rallied to make up more than 4 ¼ lengths in stretch and gained second by a half-length at  6 ½ furlongs on Sept. 29.

 

Princess Malia: Tracked pace a head back in second, roused mildly in stretch, drew off by 10 lengths and cruised to a 6 ½-length victory at seven furlongs on Sept. 17. (Grabbed lead by a head after a half-mile, increased margin to six lengths in stretch and won easily by 9 ¼ lengths at seven furlongs on Oct. 13.)

 

Green Bananas: Raced seventh more than eight lengths behind after a half-mile, raced extremely wide entering stretch, rallied from fifth to make up more than 4 ½ lengths and gained second by three-quarters of a length at 6 ½ furlongs on Aug. 26.

 

PENN NATIONAL

 

Guam Typhoon: Pressed pace a head behind in second after a half-mile, drew clear by two lengths in stretch and prevailed by a neck at six furlongs on Aug. 4 at Mountaineer Park. (Went right to the front, saved ground leading by two lengths after a half-mile and won by 2 ¾ lengths under mild encouragement at six furlongs on Sept. 22.)  

 

REMINGTON PARK

Never Say No: Stalked pace outside more than six lengths behind after three-eighths of a mile, dropped inside for drive, rallied in stretch to make up nearly 4 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a neck at 5 ½ furlongs on a sealed sloppy track on Sept. 29.

 

She Loves Runnin’: Led by a length after a half-mile, weakened in stretch and finished third by 2 ¼ lengths at six furlongs at Louisiana Downs on Aug. 18. (Tracked pace a length behind in second after a half-mile, dueled in stretch, but couldn’t catch winner and finished second by three lengths at six furlongs on a sealed sloppy surface on Sept. 27; returned $8.80 for place.)

 

SANTA ANITA

Causeithertz: Chased pace more than 2 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, lost ground to fifth in stretch and rallied a bit to finish third by a half-length at a mile on the turf Aug. 23 at Del Mar. (Raced more than six lengths back in seventh after a half-mile, dropped to eighth after six furlongs, came out for room in stretch, rallied from third to make up 2 ¼ lengths and finished second beaten three-quarters of a length at 1 1/8 miles on a good turf course Oct. 12.)

 

SUFFOLK DOWNS

Tobacco Fox: Raced more than 4 ½ lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, angled out for drive, bore out in upper stretch, straightened, rallied to make up nearly 4 ½ lengths and finished second beaten a nose at about 7 ½ furlongs on the turf  Sept. 26.

 

Gordian Knot: Raced third early, dropped to fourth 5 ½ lengths behind after a half-mile, split rivals in stretch, gained brief lead inside sixteenth pole, encountered trouble with leader and finished second beaten a neck at six furlongs on Aug. 22; claim of foul against winner for interference not allowed.

 

WOODBINE

Firm Believer: Raced seventh early, blocked on turn, dropped to ninth and last more than 4 ½ lengths after a half-mile, angled out for stretch run, rallied from fifth to make up nearly five lengths and finished second beaten a nose at seven furlongs on Sept. 26; ran final three furlongs in 37 seconds.

 

Canadian Flag: Tracked pace more than two lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, checked on far turn, dropped to sixth, veered out for drive, rallied from fifth between rivals in stretch and rallied from fifth to finish second beaten a half-length at a mile on a good turf course Sept. 21; ran final quarter in 24 seconds. 

 

Unwinding At Work: Broke alertly from outside post 13, raced more than 5 ½ lengths behind in sixth after a half-mile, swept by leader at eighth pole and drew clear to win by 4 ¼ lengths ridden out covering the mile on the turf at 1:36 1/5 Sept. 3. (Tracked pace more than 2 ½ lengths behind in fifth after a half-mile, lost ground to sixth after six furlongs and rallied a bit in stretch to gain third by a half-length at a mile on the turf Oct. 5.)   

 

Starship Sabrina: Jostled with rival at break, raced more than five lengths behind in seventh after a half-mile, rallied four wide in stretch from fourth to make up more than two lengths and gained second by 1 ½ lengths at seven furlongs on Aug. 24.

 

Blushing Brat: Chased pace more than three lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, rallied outside to make up more than 2 ¾ lengths in stretch and finished third beaten a neck and a head at six furlongs on Aug. 6.

 

Portland Point: Pressed pace more than 1 ½ lengths behind in third, rallied to second in stretch, weakened and finished third by four lengths at seven furlongs on Sept. 9. (Raced seven lengths behind in fourth after a half-mile, roused for the drive, advanced to second in stretch and rallied to win by three-quarters of a length at 1 1/16 miles on the turf Oct. 13.)